Rep. Jim Matheson visits county

By PATSY STODDARDEditor

Jim Matheson visits the Democratic convention.

The Emery County Democratic Party met for their county convention on April 28 at the Museum of the San Rafael in Castle Dale.

Rep. Jim Matheson spoke to the audience. He spoke of the Moore Road project and how he has been able to secure funds for that project. He is also concerned about SR-10 and will look for funding options to improve that road. Rep. Matheson has long been a strong opponent of nuclear testing, he experienced first hand the death of his father Scott Matheson from cancer attributed to his being a downwinder during the age of nuclear testing. "The issue of nuclear weapons is back," said Matheson. He said on a detailed map of where incidences of cancer occur, thyroid cancer has hit Emery and Carbon counties. He said the nuclear clouds didn't stop at county lines. There are plans for a 700 ton explosion of conventional weapons on June 2. This concerns Rep. Matheson, because we don't have the capability to deliver such an explosion so why test for it. Efforts to develop a low yield nuclear explosion, angers Rep. Matheson. "Weapons testing is a bad idea, the government is playing games," said Rep. Matheson. He said he is approachable and willing to work with the county to solve problems. He is proud of the funds he has helped allocate for SR-6 with its designation as a high priority corridor which opens up other funding opportunities.

Rep. Matheson said Pam Juliano is his regional assistant and she is the eyes and ears of the communities for him. He said she has done a tremendous job keeping him informed on the happenings of the Emery/Carbon area. He also said he has enjoyed working with the Emery County officials and has learned a lot from them.

Senator Mike Dmitrich talked about the decisions our state legislature made this year - decisions that denies people dental care and lowers access to health care. He said several clinics in the Navajo reservations will have to be closed because of these decisions. He said they failed in Human Services but they voted to get a nice new lane on I-15 from Provo to Salt Lake.

Representative Brad King talked about the state of politics in Utah. He has met with LDS church leaders to discuss his concerns. He said he is tired of hearing that morality applies only to sexual issues. He thinks it's immoral the way our state legislature sent 44 people from home health care to nursing homes this year by cutting home health care services. They also cut respite care - so those caring for seriously ill family members will no longer be able to get a break. He said the world is run by those who show up and he thanked all in attendance for showing up.

Rob Miller, the Vice Chair of the State Democratic party said that the Democrats have had 220 people file for office this year. That is a three decade record. He said things are changing. "Even Republicans are wondering why their party has left them. They have left the people of Utah. They do not have a monopoly on values. Democrats have always had values. Democrats have done nothing but govern Utah well. We need to get back to the days of effective policies that we had with Governor Rampton and Governor Matheson," stated Miller.